Well I am trying something I have never done, decoying. I figure since it is suppost to be windy tomorrow, it might be a chance to try. I am going with a buck decoy, because most of the does are not Estrus yet, and rattling seems to be working well. My plan was to put a White Cloth on it with Dominant Buck Urine, with some Estrus Scent Wicks on the antlers, and set it up for thw wind, and the scents should blow right into the deers face. Am I doing this right?

Any help would be awesome!

I don't use decoys to much but you have the right thought in mind. If ratteling is working stick him out there where bucks can see him easily. As you know the best way to learn is to try new things. Good luck Jeff

Everything sounds right, Jeff. I, too, am studying this in great detail. I'm buying my first deke tomorrow when I go visit the Mother Ship (Bass Pro in Springfield. Hey, you gotta make lemonade out of lemons when your boss calls a district meeting in Springfield!)

Couple points to remember, though. Always face the decoy at you, as bucks will circle around to come in facing the decoy. I believe Greg Miller faces them straight at him, and I just read an article by Stan Potts yesterday where he likes to have it quartering to him. I personally plan to go with this approach next week, as that would allow a broadside shot when the buck is circling to come in.

There's also an excellent article on the subject by Bob Robb in Bowhunting World this past month.

A couple other thoughts: Most "experts" seem to go with the model made by Carry-Lite, but Stan Potts said he is now using one produced by Delta. You can find it at https://www.strongbuiltinc.com/xcart/DELTA-ARCHERY-WHITETAIL-DEER-DECOY-pr-16597-c-281.html. It lists for $99, which is an awesome price for those of us who are just starting to tinker around with this. Bass Pro, on the other hand, is running a special on the Carry-Lite for $129, which is $20-40 cheaper than usual, depending on where you buy from.

I will post my success, thanks MQ1 for the tips on the facing I was gonna have it face quartering away or quartering to, I like the quartering to better right now in my mind. I hope I can get a big one, next weekend I will take out the doe decoy and try some Estrus on it, since it will be in the 40's for highs!!

Oh, since you brought up the doe decoy...

All the experts I've read from lately (Bob Robb, Stan Potts, Greg Miller, etc.) claim that a doe decoy can do a lot more harm than good. If any mature does come out and see your doe decoy, most of the time --according to them -- they will get very nervous and start blowing. Seems like dominant does can't stand not knowing about other does in the area. But... they don't react near as much to a buck. They'll give it a good once-over, then usually go on about their business after they see it's not going to chase them or worry them.

Thanks for the heads up MQ1!!

Hey Jeff, which decoy are you gonna use, anyway?

well i was gonna use the doe decoy tomorrow and place it about 20 yads away from the scrape on the ground..the scrape will have doe estrus/scrape liquid on it..i thought it would have been a good idea..but is this also a good idea?? put my buck decoy out there place it 20 yards away from the scrape and apply the scrape liquid on the scrape and rattle at about 10 am - 11 am??

this is somethin ive always wanted to try...i hope someone on the board has actually done this extensively maybe get their input

I had a great encounter last Sunday using a decoy(3d target by delta)...I faced it broadside and the buck I had come in circled to the rear of the decoy....???? Broadside MISS!!! 140" 10pt......Oh well...Tonight another deer came out and didn't even care about the decoy...Grunted...Weeeeezed.....nothing.....